graceful living

An apple a day or 2

An apple a day is all about one’s health ultimately for the quality of life it represents. Leading a healthy lifestyle involves more than what you do for your body. Paying attention to the health of your mind is just as important. A healthy mind is one that is active, productive, and as uninhibited by stress as much as possible. Yes I said that … kind of funny if you think about a stress free life nowadays. Now wouldn’t that be a subject to blog about? These days we find that almost amusing.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away! We all know this quote very well. However, an average one eats only approximately 60 apples a year… who does not like warm and almost therapeutic smell of an apple pie? Apples are among the most common fruit in our land, which are available year round and the cost is so minimal. But are they as healthy and beneficial as the old proverb says? Let’s try to find out together.

Though apples have caused a serious problem in the Garden of Eden (Genesis), many of us like apples a lot but do not eat them on a daily basis. Apples range from slightly tart and sour to quite sweet and juicy. Apples are very easy to store and handle, and they are considered a very easy-to-consume fruit, which provides us with a variety of benefits.

Apples are a rich source of dietary fiber; therefore, the key health benefits of apples include positive effects on the function of our digestive system. Apples are very rich in iron, a mineral that supports our cardio vascular health and keeps the quality of our blood high. The nutritional values of apples are derived from its rich content which includes Vitamins A, C, G and B complex, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, as well as flavonoids, natural acids, pectin, polyphenols, and antioxidants that support our heart health. In addition, apples inhibit the activities of free radicals and slow down aging processes, as well as protect us from many types of cancer.

In particular, studies have shown that by daily consumption of apples it is possible to lower the risks of breast and lung cancer in women as well as colon and liver cancer, apples can also lower the risks of asthma and other respiratory system problems.

Most apples are very beneficial for those who want to lose weight. Eating only 1 apple a day is linked to lower cholesterol levels in blood as well as more effective fat burning. Apple skin is rich with pectin, which stimulates detoxification, this is definitely one of the most important health benefits of apples. Consuming apples on a regular basis is linked to better liver health, lower risks of having kidney stones, improved skin and hair quality, stronger bones, reducing the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as many other benefits.

So when you look at your apple today, think of it as saying “Choose Me” – “YES ME” 🙂

Now if you cannot eat an apple because of the fructose, then we will have to discover a new fruit. I am on the hunt for new fruits that does not bother ones with fructose sensitivities. I have found this graph on a website about fructose, it may or may not help those with fructose sensitivities. Our fruit/food has been tampered with in so many ways, it is hard to find a completely natural, no chemical, or processed foods. Try to find your foods locally, or grow them yourself. I know easier said than done. Any suggestions, please let us know below. 🙂

The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.
And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:12